Device for moistening and sealing envelops



(Nomaden DI B ANDRUS.

DEVICE PoR MOISTBNING AND SEALING ENVELOPS. No. 581,258. Patented.Aprl 247, 1897.

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UNITED STATES ATENT EEicE.

DANIEL B. ANDRUS, OF BATAVIA, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR MOISTENING AND SEALING` ENVELOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,258, dated April 27, 1897.

Application filed July 22, 1896. Serial No. 600,126. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL B. ANDRUS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Batavia, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Moistening and Sealing Envelops, &c., of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to furnish a convenient, light, and easily-manipulated hand implement adapted to be used in sealing envelops or attaching stamps or in securing gummed paper to another surface.

The invention consists in the combination of a suitable moistening device, a pressing device preferably in the form of a plane-surfaced roller, and a handle whereby the moistening and pressing devices may be manipulated.

It further consists in the combination, with a presser-roller, of a moistening device supported in the roller, and a handle having bearings for the roller and by means of which the roller may be manipulated.

The invention further consists in a hollow pressing-roller one end of which is adapted to act as a water-chamber, a moistening device inserted in and closing the other end of said roller, and a handle having branching arms in which the roller is j ournaled, all combined and forming a hand implement adapted to the uses above mentioned.

The invention further consists in the novel construction and combination of parts and devices hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings I show at Figure 1 a plan view of'my invention; at Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the roller and moistening de- Fig. 3 is a plan of the moistening device removed from the roller. Figs. -l and 5 'are sections upon the lines Il 4 and 5 5, re-

spectively, of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a plan of a modified construction.

In the drawings, A represents a light cylinder, of metal or other suitable material, entirely closed at one end by the head A and open at the other end. On the outside it is covered with a coating of felt A2 or other soft material or cloth. This cylinder forms a pressing-roller adapted to smooth and press the moistened paper down and cause its attachment to the opposing surface or the body of the envelop; and in order that the roller may be conveniently manipulated and caused to exert the necessary pressure I provide it with a handle B, having two branching arms B B2, in which the roller is journaled, as more particularly set forth hereinafter.

The moistening device consists of a body of felt or other suitable material, (shown at C.) The moistening material is inserted in and preferably fills a short tube or holder C@ which is closed at its inner end by a head C2 and is perforated throughout its surface, as seen at c, to form openings throu gh which the water with which the open space or chamber A3 of the tube A is charged may find its way to the felt C. The moistener-tube O is also covered with felt or cloth O3, so as to fill the space between the inner'surface of the tube A and the outer surface of the moistener-tube O Without excluding the moisture from the felt. At its outer end the holder C is provided with an outstanding flange or collar O4, adapted to abut against the end of the tube A, and also with a raised surface C5, adapted to accurately it the interior of tube A. This flange and raised surface form a practically water-tight joint with the tube A, so that the implement when not in use may be positioned with the roller lying horizontally, and' when in use may be tipped to a vertical position, without danger of leakage in either case. The felt C or other material employed in its stead is firmly compressed within the holder lC as an additional preventive of the loss of water, and it extends through the open end of the holder, as plainly indicated, so that the projecting portion or tip can be brought in contact with the gummed surface of the envelop and moved over the same, imparting moisture thereto as it proceeds. The handle B enables the implement to be used in this manner with facility.

The cloth cover of the holder C may be secured by fastening-bands C6 or in any other suitable way.

The arm B of the handle is attached to the disk D, having an axial opening which receives the pivotal projection D upon the head A. The arm B2 is made in two parts, its outer IOO portion B3 being removable and normally secured in a sleeve B4 by a set-screw The removable portion B3 is attached to a ring E, which encircles the outer end of the feltholder C' and sits up against the ange C4 of the holder and acts asa bearing for the roller. \Vith this construction it will be seen that the roller will be free to rotate and that it will be securely held in the handle, so that it can be lifted and used both in moistening the gummed flap or surface and in pressing down and smoothing the moistened surface so as to effect its attachment.

The operation of myinvention is as follows: rlhe arm B3 being released from the set-screw B5 and removed with its band E, the moistening material and its holder are then taken out of the roller and the chamber A3 is charged with water. The moistener is then reinserted in the roller and the band E and arm B3 replaced and secured by tightening the setscrew, and the implement is then ready for use. If an envelop is to be sealed, the operator moves the moistening material over the gummed surface of the Hap and then presses the liap down on the body of the envelop by means of the roller, which acts not only to smooth it, but to complete its attachment to the body. If a stamp is to be applied to the envelop, the m oistener Gis pressed upon that part of the envelop to which it is desired to attach the stamp, and then the stamp may be attached by positioning it and moving the roller over it.

The head C2 of the holder C fit-s the interior of the roller-tube, but is preferably not iitted so tight as to exclude the passage of water from chamber A3 to the exterior covering of the holder. lf a sufficient supply of water cannot be obtained in this way, the head C2 may be cut away for portions of its periphery at e0, or other openings therein may be provided, so as to give the needed suppl y to keep the mostener in condition for use at all times.

Then my improved moistening and sealing implement is not in use, it may occupy a position upon the table or stand with the roller lying horizontally. In this position the pressure of the water in the water-chamber will be slight, because the diameter of the chamber is limited as compared with its length, and consequently even if the chamber is full the pressure of the water will be slight. 'Vhen, however, the implement is tipped up en dwise in moistening the gu m med paper, the pressure of the water toward the moistener. will be increased, because of its greater depth, and some impelling force will also be added to it by the tipping movement. It will thus be seen that the supply of water to the moistener will increase and decrease in the ratio of the use. Should the m oistener become too dry during periods of non-use, it may be recharged by holding the implement for a short time with the moistener pointing down.

The outer end of the moistener is made in conical form, as illustrated, in order to reduce the liability of the water dripping from it should it become surcharged. 4

In the modified construction shown at Fig. G the entire arm B20, corresponding to B2 and B0 of Fig. l, is made removable and is secured by a set-screw B or equivalent fastener direetly to the handle. The arm B10, corresponding to the arm B of the other figure, instead of being secured to a disk D is eX- tended beyond the aXisD of the rollerand is iattened and perforated to receive the axis.'

Thilo the construction I have shown is the best now known to me, it will be understood that it may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not wish to be limited in my claims to the construction illustrated.

The covering of the presser-rolleris of felt or some similar material and is adapted to act as a cushion upon the surface to be sealed by pressing together irregular surfaces, as, for instance, envelops containing pins or hard substances which would prevent a hard-surfaced roller from perfectly accomplishing the work, and also to absorb while passing over the surface any surplus moisture which may be left in the process of sealing, thus preventing damage to or soiling any surface with which it may come in contact.

I claiml. A hand implement for sealing envclops, tre., consisting of a moistening device and a pressure device having aninternal reservoir for the water-supply of the moisture in combination with a handle whereby they may be manipulated, substantially as specified.

2. A hand implement for sealing envelops, duc., consisting of a moistening device and a pressure-roller having an internal reservoir for the Water-supply of the moisture in combination with a handle whereby they may be manipulated, substantially as specified.

3. A hand implement for sealing envelops, dac., consisting of a moistening device and a pressure-roller in combination with a handle whereby they may be manipulated, said moistening device bein g carried in said roller, substantially as specified.

4. The hand implement for sealing envelops, the., consisting of a roller adapted to hold water, a moistening device carried in said roller, and a handle in which the roller is j ournaled, substantially as specified.

5. rEhe hand implement for sealing envelops, the., consisting of a hollow roller closed at one end, a moistening device closing the other end of the roller and kept wet by water confined in the roller, and a handle in which the roller is journaled, substantially as speciiied.

G. The hand implement for sealing envelops, cc. consisting of a hollow roller adapted to hold water, a moistening device and holder therefor, inserted axially in the roller, and kept charged by the water therein, and a handle havin gbranching arms in which the roller IOO IIO

is journaled at its ends, substantially as specilied.

7. The hand implement for sealing en velops, &c. consisting of a hollow roller adapted to hold water, a moistening device and holder therefor, inserted axially in the roller, and kept charged by the water therein, and'a handle having branching arms in which the roller is journaled at its ends, one of the journals heilig` removable, substantially as specified.

8. The hand implement for sealing envelops, dac., consisting of a hollow roller adapted to hold water, a moistener removably held in one end of the said roller, and ahandle having lbranching arms in which the roller is journaled at its ends, the journal at the moistener end being also removable, substantially as specified.

9. The combination of apresser-roller made hollowr and adapted to hold water, means whereby said roller may be manipulated in sealing the envelop and a moistening device closing one end of the roller, and shutting ott leakage, substantially'as specified.

10. The combination with the presser-roller ofthe moistener C,a holder for such moistener having a head C2 cut away at c2 and having the perforations, c, and also covered with cloth C3, substantially as speciiied.,

11. In a machine or implement for sealing envelops, dac., the combination of 'a presserroller, a moistening device supported in said roller, and a handle for operating the roller, substantially as specified.

12. The implement for moistening and sealing envelops, dac., consisting of a suitable handle and a pressure-roller or device having a moistener at one end and also having its water-supply located relative to the moistener as set forth, so that the water will be impelled toward the inoistener when the irnplement is tipped in the act of moistening the paper.

13. The implement for moistening and sealing envelops, &c., consisting of a suitable handle and a pressure-roller or device adapted to occupy a horizontal position when not in use, said roller having an interior waterchamber, and a moistener located in the end of said roller and in communication with said water-chamber, whereby the endwise tipping of the implement in moistening the paper will increase the supply of water to the moistener.

14. The implement for moistening and sealing envelops 85e., consisting of a horizontal cylinder adapted to be rolled over the envelopilap in sealing, and having a suitable handle whereby it may be manipulated, said roller also having a reservoir in one end and a moistener with a conical outer extremity at the other end, substantially as specified.

15. As a new article of manufacture, a device vfor sealing envelops &c., embodying a dry-surfaced fountain-roller, a handle whereby the roller may be manipulated and a moistener projecting axially from the roller, substantially as speciiied. 16. In a device for moistening and sealing envelops, dac., a moistener-holder perforated eXteriorly and covered with clothCS, and a water-supply admitting the waterl to the moistener through said cover in combination with an imperforate cylinder covering the perforated portion of the holder, substantially as speciiied.

DANIEL B. ANDRUS.

lWitnesses:

N. S. YOUNG, ALBERT E. SNOW. 

